7 Tips To Choose The Best LMS For Your Multilingual Online Training Course

Learning Management Systems allow you to deploy online training to your globally distributed workforce. Which LMS platform is right for your organization, though? In this article, I'll share 7 tips to choose the best Learning Management System for your multilingual online training course.

How To Choose The Best LMS For Your Multilingual Online Training Course

HR and Learning and Development managers are charged with cultivating top talent and ensuring that every employee has the online training resources they require. However, you need a reliable Learning Management System platform to deliver and track your online training initiatives. Your Learning Management System must be easily accessible, intuitive, and cost-effective. It should also give you the power to provide meaningful online training experiences to every member of your team. Here are 7 top tips to choose the best LMS for your multilingual online training course.

1. Evaluate Your Multilingual Workforce

Many multilingual LMS platforms support a variety of languages. However, you must conduct in-depth audience research to explore your employees' backgrounds, preferences, and personal needs. For example, you may discover that there is a particular dialect your employees are more familiar with, or that they would like to have the option to choose from 2 or 3 different languages based on their cultural backgrounds. Evaluating your multilingual workforce also gives you the power to create personalized online training resources. For instance, online training content that features images they can relate to, or colors which have symbolic meanings.

2. Keep It On The Cloud

Cloud-based LMSs are easily accessible, which makes them ideal for global online training initiatives. Every member of your organization is able to login to the LMS platform to fine-tune their skills, regardless of whether they are in Texas or Shanghai. The only requirement is Internet access and a user name/password. The same goes for your L&D team. They have the opportunity to develop, deploy, and track your multilingual online training course remotely. Thus, they can collaborate with ease to ensure effective online training experiences.

3. Let Employees Select Their Language Of Choice

In today's busy, tech-centric world, geographical limitations are a thing of the past. Employees get to travel the world to share their expertise with their international counterparts face to face. However, they still need to be able to access online training content out in the field. For this reason, your LMS should give corporate learners the option to choose their own language at any point during the multilingual online training course. Also, bear in mind that most countries are now culturally diverse, in their own right. For example, an employee in your U.S. branch who hails from Japan may still be more comfortable receiving training in their native tongue.

4. Ensure That Every Element Is Translated

Every piece of text should be translated, down to the smallest detail. That includes captions, navigation icons, and contact forms, as well as online training simulations, branching scenarios, and assessments. It's wise to look for an LMS that automatically translates the entire online training course layout so as to improve comprehension. For instance, the compliance online presentation you integrated features subtitles in five different languages. In some cases, you may have to manually translate the online training content and upload it to the LMS, especially if the text is embedded into an image or infographic that is featured in your multilingual online training course.

Insider Tip: When developing your multilingual online training course, use "global-friendly" graphics to save yourself time later on. For example, certain images may not be instantly recognizable in certain parts of the world. Or worse, they could be offensive, based on societal norms, which is why you should walk the fine line between eye-catching and controversial when selecting your online training media.

5. Consider Geolocation

Many LMS platforms are now equipped with geolocation features. The LMS automatically detects the user's location, then displays the relevant online training materials. For example, the English version of your multilingual online training course appears for employees in the UK, while staff members in Holland receive online training resources that are translated into Dutch. However, employees should still have the option to switch the language based on their own preferences. Team members in Holland may still want to receive the English version of the online training course, and forcing them to access the Dutch online training resources simply based on their geographical location is counter-productive.

6. Focus On Navigability

Keep in mind that certain languages don't follow the left to right reading rule. For example, Arabic text is read from the right. As such, the LMS should switch the eLearning course navigation to accommodate these translated versions of your multilingual online training course. However, it's important to focus on navigability for every version of your online training course. Employees must be able to progress through the online training modules or activities quickly without having to worry about ambiguous icons or inactive links standing in the way.

7. Verify The LMS Text Customization Options

The LMS should make it stress-free to customize the translated text. For instance, you should be able to quickly modify the default text to improve readability. In fact, you may want to ask your L&D team to review each version of your multilingual online training course to check for errors, in addition to any text that seems out of place. As an example, an English adage that gets lost in translation. Remember, the goal is to make the online training experience relevant and relatable for your global audience. You want them to feel like the online training content was developed just for them and their specific needs. So, make it personable but professional, and ensure that every piece of text falls in line with the narrative pace. This is yet another reason why it's crucial to evaluate your target audience beforehand.

Ultimately, the Learning Management System you choose for your multilingual online training course should cater to the skills and talents of your L&D team. Every member of the group must be able to use the key features in order to warrant the investment. Furthermore, it needs to provide personalized online training resources to your worldwide workforce regardless of their experience levels or cultural backgrounds.

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